12:01 AM,
Mar. 2, 2013

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Written by

David Breland
American Staff Writer

Former Army Cpl. Needham Jones was presented a Congressional Gold Medal on Friday by Congressman Steven Palazzo in honor of Jones' service with the distinguished 99th Pursuit Squadron, more commonly referred to as the Tuskegee Airmen.

Jones served with the historic unit in a ground support role. The historic all-black unit helped break the color barrier in the armed forces.

Many in leadership circles during World War II doubted blacks' ability to even pilot aircraft, using shoddy science to say blacks were incapable of operating complex instruments and even seeing at night. Jones said ...